Page 43

After talking to Emma, she wanted to be with her kids.

Chapter 18

Arnhem Highway - Sunday afternoon.

Tarni

It didn’t take Cy long under her instruction to make the box that she’d been making when she drilled through her hand and fill it up with the soil that she told him to take from the specially made mix. He used the tiny hand rake to smooth the soil.

‘It’s really important that the depth is consistent,’ she said.

She nodded once Cy had the soil at an even depth in the shallow tray. ‘Now there’s a pair of new gloves up on that shelf.’ Tarni pulled a face as she lifted her injured hand to point to the box of gloves. ‘Oh, I keep forgetting about it,’ she said as she pointed with her other hand. ‘Find a pair that’s marked large and put them on.’

Cy’s grin was wide as he did as Tarni directed, snapping the gloves as he pulled them up over his wrists.

‘I feel like a doctor, about to perform surgery.’

She shook her head. ‘That comes after the incubation period.’

‘Surgery?’ His eyes were disbelieving.

‘Yes, on the seeds. It’s a very fine process. Now see that round green tray on the second shelf’—he touched it— ‘Yes, that’s the one.’ Tarni nodded as he lifted it down. ‘How many seeds are in it?’

‘I can see five,’ Cy said.

‘Good. Right, now really gently pick up the seeds one at a time. Put each seed between the tip of your thumb and your forefinger and while you’re holding it, use your left hand to dig a little dent. About one centimetre deep. Now drop the seed in, and don’t touch it again once it’s in the warm soil. Use your other hand to lightly brush the soil over it, just enough so you can’t see it, but just put enough of the soil over it so that you might just see a hint of colour through it.’

Tarni smiled, stood up and used her good hand to wipe the perspiration from his brow with a tissue. ‘You’ve worked up a sweat.’

***

Cy

‘Can’t let sweat drip into the trays.’

Cy was surprised when Tarni reached over and mopped the perspiration off his brow. Once she was standing, she moved behind him and she was so close he could feel the warmth of her body through his denim jacket.

He turned around and was surprised to see her face only centimetres from his. She coloured and a strange feeling jerked through him.

‘You’re doing well,’ she said.

‘Don’t trust me to do the right thing, Tarni. ’As soon as he spoke, he realised the double meaning of his words. ‘The seeds I mean.’

Her face went a deeper pink and Cy realised it would have been better if he’d kept his mouth shut. His thoughts scattered when Tarni stood so close to him; he felt like a gawky teenager.

She nodded. ‘Perfect, you’ve done well.’

Cy’s second and biggest surprise came when Tarni stood on her toes and brushed her lips across his cheek. He held her eyes, and the silence was electric. Her cheeks were heading towards red now and she was the first to look away. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.’

‘It was nice. I must have done okay with the seeds.’ Cy forced a laugh. ‘I was terrified if I stuffed up, you wouldn’t talk to me again. And it would be very quiet in the car for our long drive to the hospital. Are you ready to go?’

‘I’ll just change my shoes and get my purse. Will I need a coat?’

‘Might be wise. It could be late when we get back if we have a long wait.’

Cy locked up the shed and waited at the bottom of the house steps for Tarni; he was still worried about her being a bit fragile from the wound. She wasn’t long, and she carried a small bag. ‘I put some fruit in case we need a snack, and I filled two water bottles from the water filter,’ she said as she joined him at the bottom of the steps. ‘Oh shoot, I meant to top it up, it’s almost empty.’

‘The tap water should be okay. It comes straight from the water tanks.’